School supplies needed for backpack project

The Branches, the Episcopal Ministry and Outreach Center for St. Barnabas by the Bay Episcopal Church, Villas, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Stone Harbor, will celebrate the beginning of another school year on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. with the third annual “Blessing of the Backpacks” and a hot dog festival at The Branches in Rio Grande.

Last year, volunteers from the outreach center filled more than 90 donated backpacks with supplies that were given to representatives from Middle Township’s Ocean Academy, Lower Township’s David C. Douglass Veterans Memorial School and Carl T. Mitnick School as well as Families Matter, LLC and DYFS social workers for distribution to students.

Organizers are asking community members to donate new backpacks or school supplies, especially two-pocket portfolio folders, glue sticks, 24-count boxes of crayons, 10- or 12-count boxes of markers, erasers, colored pencils and pencil sharpeners.

Items can be dropped off at St. Mary’s, 9425 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, Sunday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; St. Barnabas, 13 W. Bates Ave., Villas, Sundays from 8 to 11 a.m. and Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m., or The Branches in the Village Shoppes at the intersection of Second Street and Vermont Avenue in Rio Grande, Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information, contact The Rev. Susan Cushinotto, Deacon, St. Mary’s Church, at 513-3038 or Beverly Larson at 368-4143.